THE WORLD | IN BRIEF / TAIWAN

Island Prepares for Typhoon Onslaught

Taiwan braced for a major storm as Typhoon Dujuan whirled closer to the island. Although the typhoon wasn't expected to hit until evening, intermittent showers soaked the capital, Taipei.

Packing winds of 87 mph, Dujuan -- the Mandarin word for azalea -- was expected to pass over the southern half of the island, the Central Weather Bureau said. Taiwan issued land and sea warnings and urged people not to go climbing or fishing.